testify
verb
tes·ti·fy
ˈte-stə-ˌfī 
testified; testifying
1
: to make a solemn declaration under oath for the purpose of establishing a fact (as in a court)
2
a
: to make a statement based on personal knowledge or belief : bear witness
b
: to serve as evidence or proof
3
: to express a personal conviction
2
: to declare under oath before a tribunal or officially constituted public body
3
Examples of testify in a Sentence
She refused to testify about who had given her the information.
She testified before Congress today.
He agreed to testify against his drug dealer.
He testified that he'd seen two people leave the building on the night of the murder.
These statistics testify that the program is working.
Several people testified during the revival meeting.
Recent Examples on the Web
There are personal ones — testifying before Congress in opposition to the Comcast-NBC merger and actually getting a settlement out of it; going to the White House to debate violence in film, when that was a significant issue.
—
Kevin Cassidy, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025
Ah Fong, who cooperated with police and testified in court, was granted immunity, according to both the South China Morning Post and The Washington Post.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
Salzman was sentenced in 2021 to time served and five years of probation, after having pleaded guilty and testifying against Raniere (who’d also been her lover) at his trial.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
Tarter testified on Friday that Kay jokingly asked him to share his prescription painkillers.
—Sam Blum, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for testify
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Kevin Cassidy, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025
Ah Fong, who cooperated with police and testified in court, was granted immunity, according to both the South China Morning Post and The Washington Post.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
Salzman was sentenced in 2021 to time served and five years of probation, after having pleaded guilty and testifying against Raniere (who’d also been her lover) at his trial.
—Kate Aurthur, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
Tarter testified on Friday that Kay jokingly asked him to share his prescription painkillers.
—Sam Blum, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for testify
Cite this Entry
“Testify.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/testify. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
testify
verb
tes·ti·fy
ˈtes-tə-ˌfī
testified; testifying
1
a
: to make a statement based on personal knowledge or belief
could testify to the student's devotion to her studies
b
: to make a formal statement of what one swears is true
testified in court
2
: to give outward proof : serve as a sign of
yawns testifying to fatigue
Legal Definition
testify
verb
tes·ti·fy
ˈtes-tə-ˌfī
testified; testifying
: to make a solemn declaration under oath or affirmation for the purpose of establishing a fact : give testimony
: to declare in testimony
testifier
noun
Etymology
Latin testificari, from testis witness
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